June 2013

I am unfortunately one of those women who do not lose their baby weight magically after giving birth. When I had my first born, it took me 10 months to completely lose the baby weight. It took me even longer to lose the baby weight the second time around – 23 months! So with my third pregnancy, I decided to continue my exercise regimen. However, even after 8 weeks post partum, I haven’t lost a pound.

My last weigh in before I gave birth set me at 153 lbs. My baby was born at 7 lbs, so I was 146 lbs and I thought I would continually drop the weight as I was breastfeeding. For those first time mamas, breastfeeding is supposed to help you lose the baby weight. Breastfeeding not only did not help me lose the weight, but I gained it all back.

I took the pictures above at 8 weeks just to document my weight gain. As of right now, I am 17 weeks post partum. I’m going to take pictures this week to see if I’m dressing my new body correctly. Prepregnancy I was a size 6. Now I’m a size 12.

I’ve been cutting out carbs like Gatorade, Soda, bread, pasta, and rice. I try to exercise 4 times a week, alternating Les Mills Combat and running on my treadmill. One iPhone app I’m really loving is My Fitness Pal. If you are also working out, connect with me on MFP: dietingfashions.

Like this:

I forgot where I first laid eyes on this pair of sunnies. The first thing I thought was ‘Holy sh*t! What gorgeous sunnies! It’s going to cost an arm and a leg.’

Boy, was I surprised it’s a steal at $295.00 (for the name brand). Shopbop.com has 1 left and I’m itching to press the BUY button. (Unfortunately, I’ve been monitoring my spending a lot more. I have one more mouth to feed and to save up for a college fund.)

So if someone grabs it before I do, shoot me an instagram and let me live vicariously through your triumphant purchase!

Like this:

This is a long overdue birth story. Towards the last month of my pregnancy, the contractions were more painful and more frequent than any of my other pregnancies. The pain would come and go so I never felt the urgency to ever head to the hospital.

I knew I wanted to induce the baby. But I found out that the state now requires all inductions to happen beginning at 39 weeks not 38 weeks as previous years. I thought the baby could wait. Boy, was I wrong.

02/18/13
That night I was in complete pain. The contractions were taking a toll on my body. I was in bed at 9PM trying to breathe through the pain. The contractions were all over the place: 9 mins apart, 20 minutes, 5 minutes, 30 minutes…

I would fall asleep just to be woken up with a gut wrenching contraction. Somehow I made it through the night and I was pain free at 7 AM on 02/19/13.

When I woke up, I felt I needed to be at the hospital. But after eating a hearty breakfast, I felt a lot better so I decided to just wait since the next day was my doctor’s appointment anyway. Besides, I still had a lot of baby nesting stuff to do.

I spent the rest of the day cleaning, washing, and getting more stuff for the baby. I was so tired by bedtime that I was out in minutes.

02/20/13
It was 2AM when I felt a pop! and some wetness. I shot up, awake and a bit frantic. I woke up my husband ‘My water broke!’

He shot up ‘What? Now?’

I ran to the bathroom to change and added an overnight sanitary pad in case of more wetness (there was so much more).

I called my mom and she rushed over in minutes. I quickly asked her to make me some food. I wanted to have energy for the birth.

After eating the earliest breakfast I ever had, we headed to the hospital. Checking into the hospital at 3AM was the most awkward thing I ever done. I remember no one was there except 2 cops and 2 admin nurses. I said ‘My water broke!’ Everyone was just staring at me until someone got me a wheelchair and pushed me to Labor & Delivery.

The contractions were now about 8 minutes apart.

A nurse came to my room and told me put on my gown and got me settled on the bed. She asked me the usual questions:

When’s your due date?
Did your water break?
What color was it?
How far apart are your contractions?

Then she check my dilation. With a surprised gasped, she said ‘You’re 8cm dilated!’

No wonder these contractions were painful!

Almost instantaneously, a rush of nurses came in. The on call doctor was beeped and told to come immediately.
My nurse was asking personal health info.

In between my contractions a nurse would take my blood pressure, set my IV while another nurse asked me to sign hospital documents – initial here, sign there. I would stop and clutch the side of my bed through the contractions while the nurse quietly said, ‘Well sign here after that contraction. It just says that if you require a blood transfusion ….’ I really don’t remember what I signed.

I kept thinking, ‘Oh My God I Need to Push! Where’s the Doctor?’

It was like the nurse heard me. She told me, ‘Tell me when you need to push.’

I blurted, ‘I need to push now.’

All she did was turn me on to my left side and said, ‘Ok, wait for doctor. Lay on your side with your legs closed.’

I looked around the room. 2 nurses were by the baby clean up area. 2 nurses were standing by me still asking me to sign and inputting data into a computer. 2 other nurses were flanked on both sides of the bed with tools.

When I thought I couldn’t wait any longer, the doctor walked in putting on her scrubs. She looked at me and asked you’re ready to push. Before I could answer, my nurse said, ‘oh yes, she kept telling everyone so for a while now.’

The doctor got in position, checked my dilation, ‘Oh you are really ready. Your bladder is full so it helped to block the baby.’

I then thought to myself ‘Oh god, they’re going to make me go pee now!?!?’

Luckily I didn’t have to and the doctor took care of it with a catheter. I pushed and about the 4th push, I saw my baby girl.

She seemed so small. I didn’t remember babies being so small. I guess I’m so used to my 5 and 3 yr olds.

After laboring, there’s this rush and I’m just overcome with this euphoria. My body was no longer stretched to its limits. My mental state was no longer stressed with ‘what ifs.’

Would I go for a fourth pregnancy? I don’t know. This third child put a lot strain on me physically. I do want a little boy but it’s not in the cards, I’m already more than happy with my three girls. They’re a handful but beautifully well rounded. They’re more than I can ask for.

Like this:

Hello & Welcome!

I'm Helen and thank you for visiting my personal blog. I own my business with my husband and we have 3 beautiful girls. My blog is about my journey to get and stay healthy, and my love for fashion. I dabble in many stuff such as DIYs, decorating, and parenting tips that worked for me. I want my blog to inspire and motivate others who are on the same path as me.

Quick Search

Join Me On:

Subscribe to Dietingfashions via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.